a graphic of a total solar eclipse during totality with a graphic animation of a stop clock in the center to depict the duration of the eclipse

How long will April’s total solar eclipse last?

On April 8, a complete photo voltaic eclipse will likely be seen from components of North America, with your complete continent at the least seeing partial phases. 

How lengthy the full photo voltaic eclipse portion of the occasion lasts is dependent upon the place you might be alongside and inside the path of totality. 

If you happen to’re unable to see the eclipse in individual, you possibly can watch the full photo voltaic eclipse reside right here on House.com. And sustain with all of the actions with our complete photo voltaic eclipse 2024 reside updates weblog.

Associated: How briskly will April’s complete photo voltaic eclipse journey? 

Totality throughout North America

The primary second of totality to be seen on the planet will likely be at 12:38 p.m. EDT (1638 GMT) and the final at 3:55 p.m. EDT (1955 GMT), a sum of three hours, 16 minutes and 45 seconds. That is the impact of the moon’s umbra, its darkish central shadow, which can create a path of totality about 115 miles (185 kilometers) broad, diagonally throughout components of the North American continent. 

Complete length of totality: 

  • Totality in Mexico: 40 minutes 43 seconds 
  • Totality within the U.S.: 67 minutes 58 seconds  
  • Totality in Canada: 34 minutes 4 seconds 

Earth is spherical, and so is the moon. When the moon’s shadow strikes Earth, it does so obliquely as a stretched oval, turns into a extra round shadow on the level of biggest eclipse, after which stretches once more.

It’s a must to be within the path of the umbra — the darkish internal a part of the moon‘s shadow — to expertise totality. Your expertise relies upon not solely on the place you might be situated alongside the trail but in addition on how shut you might be to its centerline. The nearer you might be to the centreline, the longer the length of totality.

However don’t be concerned an excessive amount of about getting as shut as doable to the centerline. “Individuals visiting the trail of totality this April 8 don’t must go to the trail heart to get a long-duration eclipse,” Michael Zeiler, eclipse cartographer at GreatAmericanEclipse.com, advised House.com. “You may get 90% of the utmost totality by driving 60% of the space from path edge to heart,” Zeiler continued.

Associated: Why you need not get to the centerline for April’s complete photo voltaic eclipse — and what is going to occur on the edge

So, how lengthy the full photo voltaic eclipse lasts relies upon fully on the place you might be, however all this wants context. The overall photo voltaic eclipse of 2010 was the final time it was doable to expertise a totality of over 4 minutes, with the final within the U.S. in 2017 lasting a most of two minutes 42 seconds. In addition to, crucial factor on April 8 is to be wherever inside the trail of totality the place the sky is evident. 

How lengthy the eclipse will final throughout notable areas

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Totality length throughout notable areas
Location Totality (native time) Totality length
Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico 11:07 a.m. MST 4 minutes 20 seconds
Durango, Durango, Mexico 12:12 p.m. CST 3 minutes 50 seconds
Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico 12:16 p.m. CST 4 minutes 11 seconds
Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico/Eagle Cross, Texas, U.S 1:27 p.m. CDT 4 minutes 24 seconds
Kerrville, Texas, U.S 1:32 p.m. CDT 4 minutes 25 seconds
Fredericksburg, Texas, U.S 1:32 p.m CDT 4 minutes 25 seconds
Dallas, Texas, U.S 1:40 p.m. CDT 3 minutes 52 seconds
Idabel, Oklahoma U.S: 1:45 p.m CDT 4 minutes 19 seconds
Russellville, Arkansas, U.S 1:49 p.m. CDT 4 minutes 12 seconds
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, U.S 1:58 p.m. CDT 4 minutes 7 seconds
Carbondale, Illinois, U.S 1:59 p.m. CDT 4 minutes 10 seconds
Bloomington, Indiana, U.S 3:04 p.m. EDT 4 minutes 3 seconds
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S 3:06 p.m. EDT 3 minutes 51 seconds
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S 3:13 p.m. EDT 3 minutes 50 seconds
Erie, Pennsylvania U.S: 3:16 p.m. EDT 3 minutes 43 seconds
Rochester, New York, U.S 3:20 p.m. EDT 3 minutes 40 seconds
Montpelier, Vermont, U.S 3:27 p.m. EDT 1 minutes 42 seconds
Oakfield, Maine, U.S 3:31 p.m. EDT 3 minutes 23 seconds
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada 3:18 p.m. EDT 3 minutes 31 seconds
Montreal, Quebec, Canada 3:26 p.m. EDT 1 minute 57 seconds
Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada 4:34 p.m. ADT 3 minutes 8 seconds
Tignish, Prince Edward Island, Canada 4:35 p.m. ADT 3 minutes 12 seconds
Catalina, Newfoundland, Canada 5:13 p.m. NDT 2 minutes 53 seconds

Most totality at dawn

Because the eclipse begins at dawn south of Starbuck Island within the Pacific Ocean at 6:24 a.m. native time on April 9 (1624 GMT April 8) the moon’s shadow will likely be as removed from the moon as it might probably get. The trail of totality — the width of the moon’s shadow — will likely be 89.5 miles (144 kilometers) when it first seems on Earth. Consequently, the totality will likely be shorter, lasting simply 2 minutes and 6 seconds.  

Level of biggest eclipse

The purpose of biggest eclipse happens over Nazas, Mexico.   (Picture credit score: Michael Zeiler/GreatAmericanEclipse.com)

About 5,000 miles later is the purpose of biggest eclipse, the place totality will final 4 minutes 28 seconds from 12:15 CST (1715 GMT) over a tiny city referred to as Nazas about 25 minutes northwest of Torreón within the state of Durango, Mexico. 

At this level, the moon will likely be as near Earth because it will get in the course of the eclipse just because Earth is spherical. It is over Nazas that the facilities of the moon, Earth and solar are completely aligned. Right here, the trail of totality will likely be 123 miles (197km) broad — the widest it will get in the course of the eclipse.

Most totality at sundown

Path of totality touring throughout Maine and Japanese Canada.  The scale and form of the moon’s shadow decide the size of the totality.   (Picture credit score: Michael Zeiler/GreatAmericanEclipse.com)

Because the eclipse ends at sundown within the Atlantic Ocean at 4:53 p.m. EDT (2053 GMT) on April 8, the moon’s shadow will once more be as removed from the moon as doable. The trail of totality right here will likely be simply 88 miles (142 km) broad when it final seems on Earth. This ultimate totality will final 2 minutes and three seconds.